Conforming heating pad

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure is directed to a heating pad that conforms to body parts of a user. The conforming heating pad can be worn to provide heat relief on different parts of a user&#39;s body. In an embodiment, a conforming heating pad includes a first layer on a posterior side of the heating pad, a second layer, a third layer, and a fourth layer on an anterior side of the heating pad. A continuous heating element is distributed throughout the second layer. The continuous heating element is capable of being selectively heated to increase the temperature of the heating pad. The third layer has a plurality of cavities formed in it. Each cavity holds a plurality of beads. When the heating pad is applied to a body portion of a user, the weight of the beads applies a force against the conductive heating element, the second layer, and the first layer to thereby conform them to the body portion of the user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 62/863,073, filed on Jun. 18, 2019, entitled “CONFORMINGHEATING PAD” currently pending, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates generally to heating pads, and more particularly,to a flexible heating pad that conforms to body parts of a wearer.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Clinical studies have shown that the application of heat can providerelief for muscle and joint pain. Current heating pads are stiff andrigid, which prevents them from conforming to certain body parts.

For example, current rigid heating pads are unable to contour to curvedand complex body parts, such as a shoulder, a knee, an elbow, an ankle,or a foot. The inability of current heating pads to conform to certainbody parts impedes proper heat transfer contact to a user when placingthe current heating pad, especially on the certain, complex body parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a heating mechanism that conformsto body portions of a user. In an embodiment, a heating pad includes afirst layer on a posterior side of the heating pad. It further mayinclude a second layer, a third layer, and a fourth layer on an anteriorside of the heating pad. A continuous heating element is distributedthroughout the second layer. The continuous heating element is capableof being selectively heated to increase the temperature of the heatingpad. The third layer has a plurality of cavities formed in it. Eachcavity holds a plurality of beads. When the heating pad is applied to abody portion of a user, the weight of the beads applies a force againstthe conductive heating element, the second layer, and the first layer tothereby conform them to the body portion of the user.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. Thedetailed description and specific examples, while indicating thepreferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes ofillustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention, and theattendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readilyunderstood by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the conforming heating padconforming to a shoulder, upper back, and neck portion of a user;

FIG. 2 depicts an exploded view of the conforming heating pad; and

FIG. 3 depicts contoured states of the conforming heating pad and acontroller of the conforming heating pad.

While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way ofexample in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. Itshould be understood, however, that the drawings and detaileddescription presented herein are not intended to limit the disclosure tothe particular embodiments disclosed, but on the contrary, the intentionis to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives fallingwithin the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is directed to a conforming heating pad havingimproved flexibility and conformability to body parts. The conformingheating pad utilizes a unique heating wire pattern, reduced padmaterials, a lightly weighted layer of (e.g., glass) beads, and outerlayers comprised of soft, flexible materials. The conforming heating padof the present disclosure easily flexes to contour to the shape of anybody part for more effective pain relief (relative to conventionalheating pads) by creating more contact points to the user's body andensuring better heat transfer. The conforming heating pad describedherein can use an electrical power source (e.g., alternating currentpower, a battery, USB power source, etc.) to provide electric current toa heating wire distributed throughout a layer of the conforming heatingpad.

The present disclosure will now be described with reference to thedrawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like partsthroughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the characteristicsof the present disclosure, proportional relationships of the elementshave not necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures.

The present disclosure is directed to a conforming heating pad 2.Referring now to the drawing figures in which like reference designatorsrefer to like elements, there is shown in FIGS. 1-3 views of an exampleembodiment of the conforming heating pad 2 in accordance with thepresent disclosure. FIG. 1 illustrates the conforming heating pad 2conforming to a shoulder, upper back, and neck portion of a user. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, the conforming heating pad 2 flexes to contour tothe shape of the shoulder, upper back, and neck portion of the user'sbody for more effective pain relief (relative to conventional heatingpads) by creating more contact points to the user's body and thusensuring better heat transfer.

In an example embodiment, the conforming heating pad 2 may be a planarrectangular member. The conforming heating pad 2 preferably includes atleast four flexible layers. The layers preferably help allow the heatingpad 2 to conform to the part of the user's body onto which theconforming heating pad 2 is placed. In a first embodiment and as shownin FIG. 2, the layers of the conforming heating pad 2 include a firstlayer 4 that covers a posterior side of the conforming heating pad 2 andis positioned adjacent to the user when the conforming heating pad 2 isworn. The first layer 4 is the layer that comes into contact with theuser's skin or clothing and preferably provides a comfortable surfacethat does not irritate the skin of the user when the conforming heatingpad 2 is worn and is also able to transfer heat. The first layer 4 maybe comprised of a single-sided fabric including soft, velvet-like fibers(e.g., microplush® fabric, etc.) in some embodiments.

The conforming heating pad 2 preferably further includes a second layer6 anterior to the first layer 4 which provides a surface on which aconductive heating element 8 may be attached. The second layer 6 may becomprised of a flexible material, such as nylon, for example. Theconductive heating element 8 is distributed throughout the length andwidth of the conforming heating pad 2. In an embodiment, the conductiveheating element 8 is distributed throughout the conforming heating pad 2in a serpentine-like pattern as illustrated in FIG. 2. In someembodiments, the conductive heating element 8 is attached to the secondlayer 6 by threads or the like. The conductive heating element 8 iselectrically coupled to one or more heating element connectors forconnecting the conductive heating element 8 to an electrical connector.The electrical connector is in turn connected to an electric controllerand/or electric power source, as will be explained in more detailhereinafter. The conductive heating element 8 can be in the form of aconductive wire or conductive thread. For example, the conductiveheating element 8 may be comprised of a thin copper wire. However, itwill be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the conductiveheating element 8 can be comprised of any material that conductselectric current but also has electrical resistivity such that theelectric current is at least partially converted to heat energy whenflowing through the conductive heating element 8. In some embodiments,the conductive heating element 8 is electrically insulated with aninsulating material (e.g., a sheath, jacket, etc.) that preventselectric current from flowing from the conductive heating element 8 toother components of the conforming heating pad 2 but also conducts heatenergy generated by the conductive heating element 8 to other componentsof the conforming heating pad 2 and/or portions of the user's body.

The conforming heating pad 2 further includes a third layer 10 that isanterior relative to each of the layers 4, 6. The second layer 6 and theconductive heating element 8 are therefore located and positioned inbetween the first layer 4 and the third layer 10. The third layer 10includes a posterior third layer 10A and an anterior third layer 10Bthat each have one or more dimples 12 formed therein. The posteriorthird layer 10A and the anterior third layer 10B may be comprised of aflexible material, such as polyester fabric (e.g., high densitypolyester fabric), for example. When the posterior third layer 10A andthe anterior third layer 10B are arranged adjacent to each other, thedimples 12 of each layer are aligned such that two opposing dimples 12(i.e., a dimple 12 of the posterior third layer 10A and a dimple 12 ofthe anterior third layer 10B) form a cavity configured to hold beads 14.The beads 14 may be comprised of glass, ceramic, or the like. In someembodiments, the dimples 12 are formed in the posterior third layer 10Aand the anterior third layer 10B in a grid pattern (e.g., a 5×5 grid,etc.) such that the beads 14, and thus the weight of the beads 14, areevenly distributed throughout the third layer 10.

When the conforming heating pad 2 is placed on a body portion of a user,the weight of the beads 14 applies a force against the conductiveheating element 8, the second layer 6, and the first layer 4 to helpconform them to the wearer's body portion. This preferably keep theconforming heating pad 2 in place and snug against the wearer's bodyportion. In some embodiments, the size of the beads 14 is fine (e.g.,within a range of about 0.8 millimeters in diameter to about 1.5millimeters in diameter, etc.), and the beads 14 may have a high densityand smooth surfaces. The high density and smooth shape allow the beads14 to be very fluid or dynamic when the conforming heating pad 2 ismoved or re-arranged on a body portion of the user. In some embodiments,beads 14 act as a thermal insulator, which helps increase heat retentionproperties of the conforming heating pad 2.

As illustrated, the conforming heating pad 2 further includes a fourthlayer 16 that is anterior to all of the layers 4, 6, 10. The third layer10 and the beads 14 are therefore located and positioned in between thesecond layer 6 and the fourth layer 16. The fourth layer 16 may becomprised of a fleece material, for example. The visible outer layers ofthe conforming heating pad 2 include the first layer 4 and the fourthlayer 16, where only the fourth layer 16 is visible when the conformingheating pad 2 is worn.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the conforming heating pad 2 can be rolled up(e.g., for storage purposes, etc.). An electric controller 30 isselectively connectable to the conductive heating element 8, such thatwhen an electric current is supplied from the electric controller 30through the conductive heating element 8, heat is produced. The producedheat is transferable from the conductive heating element 8 through thesecond layer 6 and the first layer 4 to the portion of the user's bodyupon which the conforming heating pad 2 is placed/secured. The electriccontroller 30 includes control circuitry for controlling an operationalstatus of the conforming heating pad 2 and/or the flow of electricalcurrent through the conductive heating element 8. For example, theelectric controller 30 may include at least one selection mechanism andone or more indicators. The at least one selection mechanism can enablea human user to select (e.g., push, turn, etc.) the selection mechanismto turn the power on or off and/or to adjust the temperature setting ofthe electric controller 30 until the desired heat setting (e.g., low,medium, high, etc.) has been reached. The one or more indicators canindicate the status of the conductive heating element 8, on or off, or atemperature setting of the conforming heating pad 2. The electriccontroller 30 may include a housing that can be any shape and size aslong as it is able to surround the electronics and circuitry componentsof the controller 30. In one embodiment, the one or more indicators ofthe controller 30 may be visual indicators in the form of one or morelight-emitting diode (LED) lights that preferably will indicate whetherthe controller 30 has power and/or its temperature setting. In oneembodiment, a series of three LED lights may turn on or change differentcolors, notifying the user of the selected pre-determined temperaturesetting. In the same or another embodiment, another LED light may turnon or change different colors, notifying the user of the operationalstate (e.g., on or off) of the electric controller 30.

In certain embodiments, the conforming heating pad 2 described hereinprovides a high (e.g., about 145 degrees Fahrenheit) level of heat, aquick (e.g., a high heat-up time of about 15 minutes, but the user canfeel the heat in about 30 seconds) heat-up time (e.g., via XpressHeat™heating pad technology), extreme flexibility compared to current heatingpad construction, a weighted bead layer to assist with conformability tobody portions of a user, and/or multiple heat settings. In someembodiments, the conforming heating pad 2 is washable. The contouringpad profile of the conforming heating pad 2 creates better contactpoints between the conductive heating element 8 and body portions of auser, which provides enhanced heat transfer for more effective painrelief compared to current heating pads.

All references cited herein are expressly incorporated by reference intheir entirety.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the presentinvention is not limited to what has been particularly shown anddescribed herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above tothe contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawingsare not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possiblein light of the above teachings without departing from the scope andspirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A heating pad comprising: a first layer on aposterior side of the heating pad; a second layer having a continuousheating element distributed throughout the second layer, wherein thecontinuous heating element is selectively heated to increase thetemperature of the heating pad; a third layer having a plurality ofcavities formed therein, wherein at least one of said plurality ofcavities holds at least one bead; and a fourth layer on an anterior sideof the heating pad; and wherein the weight of the beads applies a forceagainst the conductive heating element, the second layer, and the firstlayer to thereby conform them to a body portion of a user of the heatingpad.
 2. The heating pad of claim 1, wherein the first layer is comprisedof a single-sided fabric.
 3. The heating pad of claim 1, wherein thesecond layer is comprised of a nylon material.
 4. The heating pad ofclaim 1, wherein the third layer is comprised of a polyester fabric. 5.The heating pad of claim 1, wherein the fourth layer is comprised of afleece material.
 6. The heating pad of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofcavities is arranged in a grid pattern.
 7. The heating pad of claim 1,wherein the at least one bead is comprised of at least one of glass andceramic.
 8. The heating pad of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofcavities is formed by a plurality of opposite-facing dimples.
 9. Theheating pad of claim 1, wherein the conductive heating element issurrounded by an insulative material.
 10. The heating pad of claim 1,wherein a controller is provided in electronic communication with theconductive heating element.
 11. A heating pad comprising: a first layeron a posterior side of the heating pad; a second layer having a heatingelement distributed throughout the second layer, wherein the continuousheating element is capable of being selectively heated to increase thetemperature of the heating pad; a third layer having a plurality ofbeads; and a fourth layer on an anterior side of the heating pad; andwherein the weight of the beads applies a force against the conductiveheating element, the second layer, and the first layer to therebyconform them to a body portion of a user of the heating pad.
 12. Theheating pad of claim 11, wherein the first layer is comprised of asingle-sided fabric.
 13. The heating pad of claim 11, wherein the secondlayer is comprised of a nylon material.
 14. The heating pad of claim 11,wherein the third layer is comprised of a polyester fabric.
 15. Theheating pad of claim 11, wherein the fourth layer is comprised of afleece material.
 16. The heating pad of claim 11, wherein the thirdlayer includes a plurality of cavities to hold the plurality of beads.17. The heating pad of claim 11, wherein the plurality of beads iscomprised of at least one of glass and ceramic.
 18. The heating pad ofclaim 16, wherein the plurality of cavities is formed by a plurality ofopposite-facing dimples.
 19. The heating pad of claim 11, wherein theconductive heating element is surrounded by an insulative material. 20.The heating pad of claim 16, wherein the plurality of cavities isarranged in a grid pattern.